|
ISHERWOOD: AM SUPPORTS PROPOSED PARK HOMES BILL |
| Print | |
|
Press release /Datganiad i’r wasg Tel: 07728090861Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.markisherwood.com
February 1st 2012
Assembly Member, Mark Isherwood, has this afternoon supported proposed legislation for Park Homes, referring to cases on North Wales sites to highlight why it is necessary.
Speaking in the debate ‘Seeking the Assembly's Agreement to Introduce a Member Proposed Bill on Park Homes’, Mr Isherwood said: “The vast majority of Park owners are reputable business people. However, too many Park Owners exploit current legislation and guidance in order to make a quick profit.
“Correspondence received from the National Association for Park Home Residents states that it is ‘standard practice’ for Park owners to encourage park home buyers to buy a park home off the site owner themselves. This also usually means that residents have to sell their Park Home at a reduced rate to the site owner, who then sells it at market price.
“A Prestatyn Park Home Owner emailed this week to say they have never known of any site owner charging less than the 10% maximum when a Park Home owner needs to sell...… “which in our opinion,” they said “is a money grabbing bonus”. They added “pitch fees in our case are £154.64 per month. In the two years we have been here, the owner has never once carried out maintenance. On top of this we pay Council Tax”.
“They continued “Of course there are very good and well run sites in the UK which charge the appropriate fees for proper maintenance and for the good of the Park Home owners, but many sites are not run this way, by site owners who do not need to have credentials what so ever?”
“They concluded “Everything about what goes on in Park Home Sites needs to be looked at very closely and Park Site owners must be stopped from, getting away with charging retired people what they want”.
Mr Isherwood added: “Related concerns raised by Prestatyn Park Home Residents generated a Denbighshire County Council response which included: “Trading Standards could be interested in the issues in relation to the 10% commission charge and the maintenance contract.”
“Following a meeting with the Chair of Morfa Ddu Park Homes Association Prestatyn and two Trading Standards Officers, Denbighshire Councillor June Cahill emailed to state that the Trading Standards Officers promised to do what they can, but could not offer any hope of recompense for existing park home residents. They could perhaps put enough pressure on park owners to follow the rules of contractual behaviour that they have not done before. In other words future residents may be treated better that others have in the past. However, they stated that without new legislation and better regulation, their hands are tied.”
Mr Isherwood also spoke of the need to address the residential misuse at holiday parks. He said: “If a holiday park is licensed for holiday and recreational use only, then it must be just for that. As reputable holiday park owners emphasize, any breaches must be dealt with firmly.”
ENDS
|